Competition for those jobs can be fierce, and many employers cast a wary eye on young people.

"Employers are still a little skeptical about hiring teens because they don't have a reputation for having a great work ethic," said Patty Sudbay, an employment counselor with Livingston County Michigan Works! "In the competitive process of hiring, teens really need to sell their work ethic when making their first impression with an employer."

Most jobs for teens fall in the areas of restaurants and retail stores, but Sudbay urges young people to expand their search into areas such as golf courses, child care, summer camps and temp agencies.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget does not release its summer job outlook until May, but Sudbay believes this year could be a better one for teen job seekers.

"(During the recession), it was difficult for teens because a lot more mature workers were taking the jobs teens would normally do to make ends meet. Now that the economy has been better, I think there are more of those jobs available," she said.

While more jobs could be out there, it's still up to teens to prove they are worthy of them.

Cory Rocca typically hires people ages 14-18 in his job as the manager of the Brighton Dairy Queen.

"Even after hiring, we usually have a big turnover the first few weeks because their work ethic is not going to work out. … They don't seem like they want to be here," Rocca said. "We really have to work on some of these younger kids to get them to understand that this is a job, not just slack-off time."

Availability is another issue with young workers, Rocca said.

"For a lot of them, their job is their second priority," he said. "They come into the shop and are going to work, but then they need every Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. This is a night and weekend job, and I let every applicant know that during the interview process."

Rocca said he hired about 10 people last year, and "three or four really amazed me and are still doing an excellent job."

Tina Marx is the hiring manager at Howell Soft Cloth Car Wash, where she has about 30 young employees, most of whom had no previous work experience.

"These are kids, and it's usually their first job, so they really don't have any qualifications. I explain to them what I need, and if it's something they can give me, I'll give them a shot," Marx said. "I just need them to be here promptly and on time and have their own transportation."

The search and the interview

At Michigan Works!, Sudbay advises teens to get the word out early that they are looking for a summer job.

"Like everyone else, networking is the most important activity. Tell as many people you know that you are looking for work and what type of work you would want to do," she said. "Being referred by someone makes it much more easy to get a job with an employer than being a stranger."

Filling out an application is something many teen job seekers will be doing for the first time. While most have little or no experience, baby-sitting jobs, mowing a neighbor's lawn, volunteer work or activities at school can be valuable information for employers.

It's also important that the information on the application is clear and concise.

"I probably don't even give a second look to about half of the applications we get (at Dairy Queen) — I can't read them because they are illegible or it looks like they filled them out in five seconds in a car," Rocca said.

Marx said anyone who wants to apply for a job at the car wash should do it in person.

"My biggest thing is don't have Mommy and Daddy pick up the application for you," she said. "If you really want a job, come get it yourself. Show initiative. If a mom or dad comes up and looks for an application for them, odds are I'm not going to hire them. I need to see that they want it."

Attire is another area that can hinder teens in their job search. Sudbay suggests "dressing up a little bit" even when picking up and dropping off an application because the person who greets you could have a say in the hiring process.

Rocca said he has had applicants at Dairy Queen show up for an interview in sweatpants, while others have dressed in a dress shirt and tie.

"That first impression is huge," Sudbay said. "Teens underestimate what's expected in terms of the dress code. There is not an expectation that you wear a three-piece suit, but you don't wear street clothes to a job interview. Hygiene, grooming, a good handshake, body language, good eye contact … all those things matter when making a first impression.

"If you make a bad first impression at the interview, the employer is going to think you will make a bad first impression on a customer," she added.

Contact Livingston Daily business reporter Mike Lammi at 517-552-2854 or at mlammi@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikeLammi.